KDU Bill to absorb SAITM students to KDU MPs were sluggish and silent during debate – IUSF

Published : 9:10 am June 22, 2018 | No comments so far | |

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Only seven MPs were present when bill was passed

By Kalathma Jayawardhane

The Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) yesterday said some parliamentarians had followed a sluggish policy during the debate on General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (Special Provisions) Bill to absorb SAITM students to KDU which was taken up in Parliament last Wednesday.

IUSF Convener Lahiru Weerasekara told Daily Mirror that though some ministers and parliamentarians had contributed well to the debate, some had followed a sluggish and silent policy and added that none of them had protested against privatization of free education in the country. He said this Bill was passed in Parliament even without a vote and added that only the parliamentarians could decide and oppose on matters which were of national interest, being the members of the legislature.

“It was reported that there were only seven parliamentarians in the Chamber at the time of passing of this Bill. However, the Bill was passed in Parliament without a vote. These authorities are attempting to represent that the Bill was approved by all parliamentarians, although only a few of them were present at that time,” he said.

“We have informed all parliamentarians of the pros and cons of this Bill, being university students. SAITM has not been abolished as yet. The management of the KDU has been vested with the power to decide on the qualifications of the SAITM students and their entry requirements. It is unfair,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said the subject minister’s guarantee to declare the abolishment of SAITM through the same Bill as an amendment was a victory gained by the anti-SAITM forces including those who were struggling on the streets for justice, for many years.